Tuesday, February 13, 2007

It Really Is True

What can I say about that last post?

Moving along.

It's interesting just what is "true" about Cambodia from my extensive research* before my trip. True: Cambodians will not accept tarnished currency. I tried to pay my moto driver at Angkor Wat, Mii (he told me his name was Mii and I decided to spell it with two "i"s because I can) with a generously-used fiver, and he wouldn't accept it. Considering that some of the yuan I've recevied (as both change and as real money from those new-fangled ATMs) was without a doubt an emeregency sanitary napkin at some point, I can't imagine why you'd object to a peach-fuzz Old Abe. Also true: the little kids do indeed run around and try the "sooshine one doll-luh," as well as trying to sell you flowers and books. Hell, a woman approached me the other day with a cage full of birds and wanted me to pay to let them free! Now that's diabloic. She got my dollar. Other Cambotruths® include constant offers for pot and hookers from moto drivers, as well as offers to go shoot cows with surplus AK-47s left over from the 70s.

Maybe I just look like a hooker-happy, pot-smokin' gun-shootin Yankee-boy Americunh, but I get these offers fairly often.

Also true: every moto and tuk-tuk driver will ask you at least once if you need their services. You could be walking into your hotel, into a shop, hell, you could be riding on another moto, they'll always ask, just in case.

Well, my intentions for a big long myth-busting installment petered out fairly quickly, no? I think I should go get ready ... I ship out to 'Nam in the morning.

Matt's Myth: Life, post-China

Two years of ESL teaching in China is behind me. Multiple once-in-a-lifetime trips throughout Southeast Asia and across Europe are now in the past. My elegant return to the US has really been a crash landing in Delaware, and this is where I pick of the pieces and try to make something of this life, all the while avoiding the temptation of setting the whole thing on fire and running to the nearest foreign-bound aircraft.